The Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D): A New, Paediatric, Preference Based Measure of Health Related Quality of Life.  Katherine Stevens, BSc, MSc, PhD	PDF File
The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

Abstract

The Child Health Utility 9D is a new generic paediatric preference based measure of health related quality of life. It has 9 dimensions, (worried, sad, pain, tired, annoyed, schoolwork, sleep, daily routine, activities) each with 5 levels. The measure was developed exclusively with children and the content, response scales, wording and formatting are based upon a qualitative study with over 70 children with a wide range of health. The measure has undergone psychometric testing in general and clinical paediatric populations, demonstrating good practicality and validity. A preference based scoring algorithm has been developed using the UK adult general population. 

Background

The use of economic evaluation to aid health care resource allocation decision making is becoming more widespread in many countries. In the United Kingdom (UK), the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) requires that submissions for consideration contain information about the cost effectiveness of interventions.1

Cost utility analysis is a form of economic evaluation which allows comparison of interventions both within and between disease areas by using outcome measures that combine length of life and quality of life into a single summary measure, conventionally the quality adjusted life year (QALY)2. There are several preference based outcome measures that have been developed for adults for this purpose, including generic measures such as the EQ-5D3 and the SF-6D4 and condition specific measures such as the OAB 5D5 and the Kings Health Questionnaire.6 Research in this area for paediatric populations is more limited however.